AMBITIOUS plans have been revealed to transform a troubled former nightclub in Blackburn.

The former Switch nightclub building in St Peter Street, could be turned into a restaurant with cocktail and dessert bar on the ground floor and an amusement arcade and snooker rooms on the first floor if plans submitted to Blackburn with Darwen Council are approved.

The building has stood empty since it was run as Code nightclub but closed just 11 days after opening in March.

The venue has been beset by problems with violence leading to the council revoking the licence last year.

Bosses hope the new scheme, if approved, would create 25 jobs including chefs, kitchen staff, security, cleaning and admin.

A statement submitted as part of the application reads: “The application site comprises the former nightclub in the town centre of Blackburn.

“Liquid and Envy opened in 2005 and operated as a successful club for almost a decade.

“In line with a trend seen across the country, the discotheque closed in 2015 and multiple attempts to revive the venue have been far from successful, including the last operator closing the business after just 11 days of trading.

“The applicant therefore seeks to make effective use of the prominent vacant venue and considers the proposed development to complement the town centre’s existing vibrant offer whilst bringing an empty property back in to active use.”

Executive member for growth and development, Cllr Phil Riley, said: “This building’s day as a nightclub has probably been and gone. It’s fair to say the town’s experience with the club was a great deal less than positive. This is a large building in the town centre so if the applicant can make this work then it would be a good addition.

“Planning permission pending, it seems like a step in the right direction.”

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A spokesman for the developers added: “Consistent with the general trend across the UK over the last decade, a number of drinking establishments such as pubs and night clubs have closed, including several notable examples within Blackburn town centre.

“The town centre and its surrounding area has in fact seen many successful subsequent conversions to alternative uses which result in job creation, sustainable economic development and further consumer choice.

“The applicant has in fact taken some inspiration from the recent granting of consent at the former Stage Door venue next to this site, which will become a high-quality mixed-use restaurant/hotel.

“The town centre of Blackburn has seen much regeneration and investment in recent years, with new forms of leisure developments including multiple new cafes and restaurants, modern cocktail bars as well as further leisure provision brought about including the Cathedral Quarter redevelopment.

“The application scheme would complement this growing offer and the applicant is clearly expressing a sign of confidence in the local economy.”

Code launched at the St Peter Street premises, formerly home to Switch and before that Liquid and Envy, on March 1.

Amid claims of a £100,000 makeover, supporters said they wanted to put Blackburn back on the north west’s clubbing map. But club manager Daniel Benson confirmed he had pulled the venue’s licence amid concerns for customer safety.

Prior to that, the building had housed Switch and Nocturnal.

Switch had been forced to temporarily close in August last year after police and Blackburn with Darwen Council chiefs shut down Nocturnal, which operated out of the same building.

The closure came after a knife fight outside Nocturnal, which left a number of people injured.

Switch then gained its own operating licence but bosses took the decision to close the venue in October last year, due to a fall in trade.